Nascent Adhesion Clustering: Integrin-Integrin and Integrin-Substrate Interactions

Nascent adhesions (NAs) are a general precursor to the formation of focal (FAs) that provide fundamental mechanism for cell adhesion is, in turn, involved proliferation, migration, and mechanotransduction. form when cells come into contact with substrates at all rigidities generally involve clustering ligated integrins may recruit un-ligated integrins. tend take on characteristic sizes range O(100nm–150nm) diameter contain integrin numbers O(∼20–60). The flexible, adaptable model we present provides clear explanation how these conserved cluster features about. Our is based interaction among arise due deformations induced membrane-cell glycocalyx substrate system activation ligation. This produces clearly potential, from it an explicit force integrins, our stochastic diffusion-interaction simulations then show will produce nascent clusters experimentally observed characteristics. reveal effects various key parameters related ligation as well some unexpected previously unappreciated including mobility rigidity. Moreover, model’s structure such refinements readily incorporated specific suggestions made what required further progress understanding development mature truly predictive manner.